When Paramount's Boss Kicked Out Tom Cruise Over Couch Jumping
The shocking story of how media mogul Sumner Redstone became the only Hollywood executive brave enough to fire Tom Cruise, sparking a bitter public feud that rocked Tinseltown.
In Hollywood's power structure, certain truths remain constant: the sky stays blue, water flows wet, and Tom Cruise simply doesn't get the boot. Yet one entertainment executive had the guts to break that unwritten rule, sending shockwaves through an industry where the superstar seemed untouchable.
For decades, Cruise has maintained his position at Hollywood's summit without wavering. His remarkable staying power represents one of the entertainment world's most impressive streaks, built on delivering blockbuster after blockbuster while becoming cinema's most dedicated and eccentric champion.
The Couch That Changed Everything
When you're among the industry's top earners, a box office legend, and someone whose mere presence guarantees opening weekend success, getting shown the door seems impossible. But bouncing on furniture like someone who'd lost their mind proved to be the breaking point, as the action star learned when his notorious Oprah Winfrey show appearance, combined with his Scientology-focused media rants, resulted in Paramount chief Sumner Redstone giving him the axe.
The actor had made Paramount his professional home for years, generating billions in revenue and replacing Eddie Murphy as the studio's primary cash cow. Yet a few disastrous publicity stunts managed to destroy all that goodwill, with Redstone issuing an official statement declaring the star unwelcome on studio property.
A Public War of Words
Predictably, Cruise's representatives insisted he hadn't been terminated but had chosen to leave voluntarily – a claim his former boss quickly shot down. "As much as we like him personally, we thought it was wrong to renew his deal," the media mogul explained. "His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."
The situation turned nasty, with Redstone telling reporters that Cruise had become the world's biggest turnoff. Yes, he actually said that publicly. When faced with this very public humiliation, the actor's longtime producing partner Paula Wagner dismissed the company's "stupid statement" as unworthy of response, while Redstone's official spokesperson Carl Folta reinforced their position: "It's a business decision, and it's based on his behaviour."
The Comeback Trail
Trying to roll with the punches, Cruise and Wagner attempted to challenge Paramount directly by reviving United Artists, but their strategy backfired when their first major releases – Lions for Lambs and Valkyrie – disappointed both reviewers and audiences. The ongoing dispute even inspired Tropic Thunder's Les Grossman character, modeled after Redstone as their conflict continued brewing.
However, since financial success speaks loudest in Hollywood, the relationship eventually healed. Years later, Cruise returned to Paramount's embrace when Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol got approved, with the same executive who had fired him declaring in 2012 that the reinstated star was "one of my best friends."